Luton

Luton's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, ethnicity and housing tenure.

The population passed 200,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Luton increased by 10%, from about 184,000 to 203,000.

The addition of almost 19,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Luton was home to, on average, 33 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it Eastof England's most densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Luton

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Luton decreased by one year, from 33 to 32 years.

This urban area had the second-lowest average age in Eastof England and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 7,100 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 60 and 69 years decreased by about 100.

About 17% of people in Luton are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Luton by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Luton

The number of people in Luton that described themselves as Muslim increased from just under 27,000 in 2001 to just under 50,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 25% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 1.6% to 2.7%) and the average across England (from 3.2% to 5.2%).

The number of people in Luton that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 110,000 in 2001 to about 96,000 in 2011 (from 60% to 47%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from about 26,000 to just under 34,000 (from 14% to 17%).

About 12,000 people (7.2%) did not state their religion, down from about 13,000 in 2001 (6.1%).

The population who identified as Muslim in Luton increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Luton by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Luton

The number of people in Luton from the White ethnic groups decreased from about 130,000 in 2001 to about 110,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 72% to 55% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Luton from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 35,000 in 2001 to just under 61,000 in 2011 (from 19% to 30%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just under 12,000 to about 20,000 (from 6.3% to 9.8%).

About 8,300 people (2.6%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just over 4,700 in 2001 (4.1%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Luton decreased by 17 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Luton by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Luton that rented privately increased from 12% to 23% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 16%, while the percentage of Luton households that owned their home decreased from 70% to 60%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than in any other local authority district across Eastof England. As a result, this area had the region’s second highest proportion of privately rented homes.

Cambridge had Eastof England's highest proportion of privately rented homes (26%), while Southend-on-Sea had the region's third highest proportion (22%).

Private renting in Luton increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of households in Luton, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

Luton saw Eastof England's largest rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Luton said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001. The percentage that worked over 49 hours in a week decreased from 12% to 7.8%.

Across the region, Norwich saw the next largest increase in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week (from 2.4% in 2001 to 4.0% in 2011).

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week, as the regional average grew from 1.9% to 2.9%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Luton increased by 1.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Luton, Eastof England and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Luton residents that were unemployed increased from 3.9% to 5.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in two (49%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 53% in 2001. The percentage of Luton residents that were self-employed increased from 6.7% to 8.4%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Luton increased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Luton, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people living alone

Luton saw Eastof England's third-largest fall in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over one in four (27%) households in Luton had only one person, compared with 29% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple decreased from 8.4% to 8.2%.

Across the region, only Southend-on-Sea (from 35% to 33%) and Cambridge (from 36% to 34%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of one-person households.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Luton

The percentage of Luton residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 5.9% to 5.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.6%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.9% in 2001. The percentage of Luton residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 6.9% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Luton residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.1% to 4.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70% in 2001. The percentage of Luton residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Luton decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Luton, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in Luton

The percentage of married people fell in Luton, but at a slower rate than in Stevenage (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Luton).

In Luton, the proportion of married people decreased from 50% in 2001 to 47% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Stevenage decreased from 51% to 46%.

Across Eastof England, the share of married people decreased from 54% to 50%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Luton increased from 33% to 37%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10% to 11%.

The proportion of married people was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households without children fell in Luton, but at a slower rate than in Hillingdon (one of the most statistically similar areas to Luton based on ONS area classifications).

In Luton, the proportion of households without children decreased from 56% in 2001 to 54% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Hillingdon decreased from 58% to 52%.

Across Eastof England, the share of households without children decreased from 61% to 61%.

The proportion of households with children in Luton increased from 34% to 36%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.8% to 9.9%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Luton residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.1% to 1.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.8%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 0.9% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Luton remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Luton by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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